Collapsible bag

ABSTRACT

A storage and travel bag includes a collapsible bag having an enclosure defined by a bottom panel, a first end panel, a spaced second end panel, a front panel, a back panel and a top panel, wherein the first end panel, second end panel, front panel, back panel and top panel are movable between a collapsed position and an uncollapsed position. A support structure is disposed within the enclosure and configured to be movable between a supporting position, wherein the support structure supports at least one of the first end panel, second end panel, front panel, back panel and top panel in an uncollapsed position, and a collapsed position, wherein the first end panel, second end panel, front panel, back panel and top panel are movable to respective collapsed positions.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

This application relates generally to a storage and travel bag. Morespecifically, this application discloses a collapsible storage andtravel bag.

SUMMARY

When traveling, hiking or the like, it is often desirable and necessaryto carry items in a bag. However, bags are typically bulky and consumevast amounts of useful space when not in use. Therefore, there is asignificant need for a bag that is capable of carrying items, yet doesnot consume vast amounts of space when not in use.

This application discloses a storage and travel bag comprising: acollapsible bag having an enclosure defined by a bottom panel, a firstend panel, a spaced second end panel, a front panel, a back panel and atop panel, wherein the first end panel, second end panel, front panel,back panel and top panel are movable between a collapsed position and anuncollapsed position; an ingress to the enclosure; and a supportstructure disposed within the enclosure, at least a portion of thesupport panel movable between a supporting position, wherein the supportstructure supports at least one of the first end panel, second endpanel, front panel, back panel and top panel in an uncollapsed position,and a collapsed position, wherein the first end panel, second end panel,front panel, back panel and top panel are movable to respectivecollapsed positions.

This application also discloses a method for using a storage and travelbag, the method comprising: providing a storage and travel bag, the bagcomprising: a collapsible bag having an enclosure defined by a bottompanel, a first end panel, a spaced second end panel, a front panel, aback panel and a top panel, wherein the first end panel, second endpanel, front panel, back panel and top panel are movable between acollapsed position and an uncollapsed position; an ingress to theenclosure; and a support structure disposed within the enclosure, atleast a portion of the support panel movable between a supportingposition, wherein the support structure supports at least one of thefirst end panel, second end panel, front panel, back panel and top panelin an uncollapsed position, and a collapsed position, wherein the firstend panel, second end panel, front panel, back panel and top panel aremovable to respective collapsed positions; moving the first end panel,second end panel, front panel, back panel and top panel from respectivecollapsed positions to respective uncollapsed positions; and moving atleast a portion of the support structure from the collapsed position tothe supporting position wherein at least one of the first end panel,second end panel, front panel, back panel and top panel are supported inan uncollapsed position.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The drawings, when considered in connection with the followingdescription, are presented for the purpose of facilitating anunderstanding of the subject matter sought to be protected.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a storage and travel bag in a collapsedposition;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a storage and travel bag in anuncollapsed position;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a storage and travel bag in anuncollapsed position; and

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a storage and travel bag in acollapsed position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring now to FIGS. 1-4, an illustrative storage and travel bag 100is shown. The bag 100 includes a bottom panel 102, a first end panel104, a spaced second end panel 106, a front panel 108, a back panel 110and a top panel 112. The panels define an enclosure 114 configured tocontain items disposed in the bag 100. Also, each of the first end panel104, second end panel 106, front panel 108, back panel 110 and top panel112 are movable between respective collapsed positions (FIGS. 1 and 3)and respective uncollapsed positions (FIGS. 2 and 4). When the panelsare in respective collapsed positions, the volume of the enclosure 114is less than the volume of the enclosure 114 when the panels are inrespective uncollapsed positions.

The bag 100 also includes an ingress 116 to the enclosure 114. In theillustrative embodiment, the ingress 116 includes an aperture 118 in thetop panel 112. The aperture 118 is selectively closed via a flap 120hingedly coupled to the top panel 112. However, it will be appreciatedthat the ingress 116 to the enclosure 114 may include any suitable formknown in the art and remain within the scope of the present disclosure.The bag 100 may also include any suitable number of straps 122, pockets124, or any other suitable device or implement for use with a storageand travel bag and remain within the scope of the present disclosure. Inone embodiment, one or more external straps retain the bag 100 in thecollapsed position.

The bag 100 also includes a support structure 126 disposed within thebag enclosure 114. In the illustrative embodiment, the support structureincludes a base panel 128, a first wing panel 130 and a second wingpanel 132. The base panel 128 may be coupled to the interior of thebottom panel 102 via any suitable device or means, including, but notlimited to, a clamp, a hook and loop fastener, a tie, a button, a hook,a snap, and adhesive or any other suitable device or means. Each of thewing panels 130, 132 is movable between a supporting position, whereineach wing 130, 132 supports at least one of the first end panel 104,second end panel 106, front panel 108, back panel 110 and top panel 112,and a collapsed position, wherein the first end panel 104, second endpanel 106, front panel 108, back panel 110 and top panel 112 aremoveable to their respective collapsed positions.

In the illustrative embodiment, the first wing panel 130 supports thefront panel 108 in the first panel uncollapsed position when the firstwing panel 130 is in the supporting position. In one embodiment, thefirst wing panel 130 is generally perpendicular to the base panel 128when the first wing panel 130 is in the supporting position. Also, whenthe first wing panel 130 is in the collapsed position, the first wingpanel 130 may be adjacent and parallel to the base panel 128 and/orsecond wing panel 130. In one embodiment, the first wing panel 130 alsosupports the top panel 112 when the first wing panel 130 is in thesupporting position. The first wing panel 130 may be releasably coupledto the front panel 108 when the first wing panel 130 is in thesupporting position so as to maintain the front panel 108 in theuncollapsed position. The first panel 130 may be releasably coupled tothe front panel 108 via any suitable means or device, including, but notlimited to, one or more of a clamp, a hook and loop fastener, a tie, abutton, a hook, a snap, and adhesive. In the illustrative embodiment, aVelcro® assembly 134 releasably secures the first wing panel 130 to thefront panel 108. Also, in the illustrative embodiment, the front panel130 includes a loop 136 having a button configured to also engage thefirst wing panel 130 and maintain the releasably coupling of the firstwing panel 130 and front panel 108.

The second wing panel 132 supports the rear panel 110 in the second wingpanel uncollapsed position when the second wing panel 132 is in thesupporting position. In one embodiment, the second wing panel 132 isgenerally perpendicular to the base panel 128 when the second wing panel132 is in the supporting position. Also, when the second wing panel 132is in the collapsed position, the second wing panel 132 may be adjacentand parallel to the base panel 128 and/or first wing panel 132. In oneembodiment, the second wing panel 132 also supports the top panel 112when the second wing panel 132 is in the supporting position. The secondwing panel 132 may be releasably coupled to the rear panel 110 when thesecond wing panel 132 is in the supporting position so as to maintainthe rear panel 110 in the uncollapsed position. The second wing panel132 may be releasably coupled to the rear panel 110 via any suitablemeans or device, including, but not limited to, one or more of a clamp,a hook and loop fastener, a tie, a button, a hook, a snap, and adhesive.In the illustrative embodiment, a Velcro® assembly 138 releasablysecures the second wing panel 132 to the rear panel 110. Also, in theillustrative embodiment, the rear panel 132 includes a loop 140 having abutton configured to also engage the second wing panel 132 and maintainthe releasably coupling of the second wing panel 132 and rear panel 110.While the illustrative embodiment shows two wing panels 130, 132, itwill be appreciated that any suitable number of wing panels forsupporting one or more of the first end panel 104, second end panel 106,front panel 108, back panel 110 and top panel 112 in their respectiveuncollapsed positions may be employed and remain within the scope of thepresent disclosure.

In use, each of the first end panel 104, second end panel 106, frontpanel 108, back panel 110 and top panel 112 are moved from theirrespective collapsed positions to respective uncollapsed positions. Inone embodiment, each of the first end panel 104, second end panel 106,front panel 108, and back panel 110 are pulled in a directionsubstantially co-planar with each of said panels and the top panel 112is pulled in a direction substantially perpendicular therewith.

The enclosure 114 may then be entered via the ingress 116, typically byone or more hands of a user. The first wing panel 130 may then be movedfrom the collapsed position to the supporting position where the firstwing panel 130 may be releasably coupled to the front panel 108 suchthat the first wing panel 130 supports the front panel 108 in the frontpanel uncollapsed position. The second wing panel 132 may then be movedfrom the collapsed position to the supporting position where the secondwing panel 132 may be releasably coupled to the rear panel 110 such thatthe second wing panel 132 supports the rear panel 110 in the rear paneluncollapsed position.

While the present disclosure has been described in connection with whatis considered the most practical and preferred embodiment, it isunderstood that this disclosure is not limited to the disclosedembodiments, but is intended to cover various arrangements includedwithin the spirit and scope of the broadest interpretation so as toencompass all such modifications and equivalent arrangements.

1. A storage and travel bag comprising: a collapsible bag having anenclosure defined by a bottom panel, a first end panel, a spaced secondend panel, a front panel, a back panel and a top panel, wherein thefirst end panel, second end panel, front panel, back panel and top panelare movable between a collapsed position and an uncollapsed position; aningress to the enclosure; and a support structure disposed within theenclosure, at least a portion of the support structure movable between asupporting position, wherein the support structure supports at least oneof the first end panel, second end panel, front panel, back panel andtop panel in an uncollapsed position, and a collapsed position, whereinthe first end panel, second end panel, front panel, back panel and toppanel are movable to respective collapsed positions.
 2. The bag of claim1 wherein a portion of the support structure is coupled to the bottompanel.
 3. The bag of claim 1 wherein the support structure comprises abase panel and at least one wing panel coupled to the base panel,wherein each wing panel is movable between a supporting position and acollapsed position.
 4. The bag of claim 3 wherein at least one wingpanel supports at least one of the first end panel, second end panel,front panel, back panel and top panel in an uncollapsed position whenthe at least one wing is in the supporting position.
 5. The bag of claim3 wherein the supporting structure comprises a first wing panel and asecond wing panel.
 6. The bag of claim 5 wherein the first wing panelsupports at least one of the front panel and top panel in respectiveuncollapsed positions when the first wing panel is the supportingposition, and wherein the second wing panel supports at least one of therear panel and top panel in respective uncollapsed positions when secondwing panel is in the supporting position.
 7. The bag of claim 6 whereinthe first wing panel is releasably coupleable to the front panel whenthe first wing panel is in the supporting position, and wherein thesecond panel is releasably coupleable to the rear panel when the secondwing panel is in the supporting position.
 8. The bag of claim 7 whereinthe first wing panel is releasably coupleable to the front panel via atleast one of a clamp, a hook and loop fastener, a tie, a button, a hook,a snap, and adhesive, and wherein the second wing panel is releasablycoupleable to the rear panel via at least one of a clamp, a hook andloop fastener, a tie, a button, a hook, a snap, and adhesive.
 9. Amethod for using a storage and travel bag, the method comprising:providing a storage and travel bag, the bag comprising: a collapsiblebag having an enclosure defined by a bottom panel, a first end panel, aspaced second end panel, a front panel, a back panel and a top panel,wherein the first end panel, second end panel, front panel, back paneland top panel are movable between a collapsed position and anuncollapsed position; an ingress to the enclosure; and a supportstructure disposed within the enclosure, at least a portion of thesupport structure movable between a supporting position, wherein thesupport structure supports at least one of the first end panel, secondend panel, front panel, back panel and top panel in an uncollapsedposition, and a collapsed position, wherein the first end panel, secondend panel, front panel, back panel and top panel are movable torespective collapsed positions; moving the first end panel, second endpanel, front panel, back panel and top panel from respective collapsedpositions to respective uncollapsed positions; and moving at least aportion of the support structure from the collapsed position to thesupporting position wherein at least one of the first end panel, secondend panel, front panel, back panel and top panel are supported in anuncollapsed position.
 10. The method of claim 9 wherein a portion of thesupport structure is coupled to the bottom panel.
 11. The method ofclaim 9 wherein the support structure comprises a base panel and atleast one wing panel coupled to the base panel, wherein each wing panelis movable between a supporting position and a collapsed position. 12.The method of claim 11 wherein the step of moving at least a portion ofthe support structure from the collapsed position to the supportingposition comprises moving at least one wing panel from a collapsedposition to a supporting position.
 13. The method of claim 11 wherein atleast one wing panel supports at least one of the first end panel,second end panel, front panel, back panel and top panel in anuncollapsed position when the at least one wing is in the supportingposition.
 14. The method of claim 11 wherein the supporting structurecomprises a first wing panel and a second wing panel.
 15. The method ofclaim 14 wherein the first wing panel supports at least one of the frontpanel and top panel in respective uncollapsed positions when the firstwing panel is the supporting position, and wherein the second wing panelsupports at least one of the rear panel and top panel in respectiveuncollapsed positions when second wing panel is in the supportingposition.